VA patient tests positive for HIV after mistakes

updated 2:51 p.m. ET April 6, 2009

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The Veterans Affairs department says a patient has tested positive for HIV after being exposed to contaminated equipment at a medical facility.

The VA reported previously that hepatitis has been found in 16 patients. But the agency says there is no way to prove the patients contracted the illnesses because of treatment at their facilities.

More than 10,000 veterans have been warned to get blood tests because they could have been exposed to contamination at facilities Tennessee, Georgia and Miami. All three sites failed to properly sterilize endoscopic equipment between treatments. The VA has said patients could have been exposed to body fluids from a previous patient.

The VA on Monday did not return telephone calls and e-mails about the positive HIV test.

Also in msnbc.com Health Why bad memories don't fade away H1N1 shot catching up to demand, official says Move that muffin top to your chest? | Poll Can you really be scared to death? Kids on psych drugs have alarming weight gain   Animal Tracks: Eye candy for animal lovers

MORE FROM HEALTH CARE

Health care Section Front

Rough road ahead for health care in Senate Ailing ‘uninsurables’ may face long wait for care Costs of defensive medicine spur heated debate Ditch new drugs, take older meds to cut costs Newsweek: Will health bill cover prayer treatments? Majority leader: House will pass health bill Going home: House calls to return with reform? Reid signals timetable for health care may slip House health bill totals $1.2 trillion Estimate: Public health option would cover few Health care Section Front   Add Health care headlines to your news reader: